Government: Parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Head of Government: Prime Minister Dean Barrow since 2008.
Language: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), and Creole.
Approximately 40% of the population are age 14 and under!
Religion: Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah’s Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4%
Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plugs.
Currency and exchange: Belize Dollar (BZ$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of BZ$100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of BZ$1, and 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. The Belize Dollar is tied to the U.S. Dollar at US$1 = BZ$2. Currency can be exchanged at most banks, hotels, and travel agencies. Some businesses will even accept U.S. dollars. Banks are generally open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. However, in many small towns, villages, and tourist destinations, bank hours may be limited.
Caution: Be careful to note whether or not the price you are being quoted is in Belize or U.S. dollars. Many hotels, restaurants, and tour operators actually quote in U.S. dollars. If in doubt, ask. At a two-to-one ratio, the difference can be substantial.
Sales tax: 9%
Time zone: Belize is on Central Standard Time, six hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. Belize does not observe Daylight Saving Time.
Police: The police in Belize are generally rather helpful; there is a dedicated tourism police force in Belize City.
Emergency numbers: In case of any emergency, dial 90 from anywhere in Belize. This will connect you to the police. You can also dial 227-2222.
Tipping: Few places add service charges, and a 10% tip is normal. Taxi drivers are not tipped.
Siesta time: Shopping hours are Mon-Sat 8 a.m. – 12 noon, 1 – 4.30 p.m., and 7- 9 p.m.
Ben was born again at the age of nine in Southern California and baptized by Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of Dr. E.A. Sharver. Ben is married to his beautiful and loving wife Terese and has successfully raised their five awesome children, Stephanie, John, Amber, Aaron & Samantha. He answered God’s call to the Gospel Ministry in 2000 under the pastorate of Mike Raines in Norman, Oklahoma. Within the Lord’s churches he has held the positions of music director, teacher, youth minister, treasurer, and interim pastor and has chaired building, missions, finance, bus ministries and pastor search committees. Ben is currently attending Heritage Baptist Institute and Seminary in Missouri City, Texas. He has been involved in missions and church planting for most of his life and is no stranger to the processes and challenges of mission work and community evangelism. He is fairly fluent in Spanish and has lived in Peru (Lima and the Amazon) and Kenya. He enjoys singing conventional church music, southern gospel and contemporary Christian music and loves to play guitar. Ben was most recently employed by BP America (British Petroleum) Corporation as a safety and health professional and Crisis Management Advisor. Ben has worked in the oil and gas industry for more than thirty years holding positions of management in some of the largest energy sector corporations in the U.S. and the world. He has extensive leadership experience in the church, corporations, civic, and professional organizations. Preparing to take early retirement from BP in December 2010, again, Ben has answered God’s call to the foreign mission field and is preparing for service in Belize, Central America.
Terese became a child of the King at 14 years of age as a result of neighbor’s faithfulness, love and willingness to pick her and her brothers up and take them to Sunday School and church. Terese is married to her loving husband, Ben and is so thankful for her five beautiful children, Stephanie, John, Amber, Aaron and Samantha. Children are her blessing and she counts it all joy that she is able to teach them about Jesus Christ the Lord. She is committed to her family, and her husband’s ministry. Terese has extensive experience running several different businesses including electrical contracting and real estate, not to mention a very active household with five children and all their friends. Terese enjoys arts and crafts, baking and serving others. She has a great burden for missionaries everywhere and looks forward to any opportunity to help them and be a part of their work wherever she can. She has served leadership roles in church and local associations as teacher, VBS Director, President and Vice-President of local and associational auxiliaries and has planned and produced successful women’s conferences.
